VietNamNet Bridge – The Vietnam Football Fans’ Association has sent an open letter with the signatures of one million members to Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung to express their discontent against the monopoly of K Plus (K+) cable TV channel in broadcasting international football events in Vietnam.

Exclusive broadcasting rights hit football audience

The Association’s Chair, senior actor Duc Trung, said before sending the letter to the Prime Minister, the Association sent a petition to National Assembly deputy Duong Truong Quoc to ask him to question the cabinet about the case of K+ at the year-end National Assembly session but the answer from the Ministry of Information and Communication was not satisfactory.

In some online forums, some people called for others to protest K+ by signing the open letter. A facebook account with around 19,000 “antifans” of K+ has been set up.

The idea to collect 1 million signatures was raised several months ago but it was realized only when football fans throughout the country flocked to Hanoi to cheer the ASEAN Football Cup (AFF Cup).

Cao Van Liet, General Director of VSTV, the owner of K+ said that it has permitted a digital TV channel and an Internet Protocol TV channel of FPT to broadcast the English Premier League. However, the audience have to pay fees to watch these matches.

Liet told Tien Phong Newspaper that Vietnam has to learn from developed countries: paid TV services have several segments of market. Clients who pay more will be provided with more attractive entertainment channels. Paid TV services can’t develop with free services.

Artist Duc Trung said that K+ must have a business policy appropriate for the country’s situation.

K+, a joint venture between Vietnam Television and France’s Canal Plus, holds the exclusive right to broadcast some international football events.

To watch matches of famous football events in Spain, Italy and the UK, clients have to buy a signal receiver worth VND1.5 million and pay monthly fees of over VND250,000.

Duc Trung said with VND4 million ($200) of monthly retirement pension, the fees claimed by K+ is too high even for him so low income earners can’t afford the service.

In a country where football is the most popular sport and with a per capita income of over $1000/year, how many people can afford to pay $150/year to watch football at the weekend?

Trung also said that VTV, the national television station, holds a majority share of K+ but it doesn’t serve the interests of the people.

This is the first time a paid TV service provider was protested strongly in Vietnam.

Artist Duc Trung said he would never use K+ service.

Actor Viet Anh stated “Using K+ service is offending the poor” and “K+ is picking customers’ pockets”.

On some online forums, members wrote that they can afford to use K+ service but they don’t or that it is better to spend that money on charity .

“We don’t want to use the word ‘boycott’ but we want to le them know that they would lose customers if they continue to press users,” Trung emphasized.

The audience’s trust on TV service providers has been undermined. Several years ago, when VTC held the exclusive right for broadcasting the EPL in Vietnam, the audience had to buy VTC’s signal receivers. Now they have to buy K+ equipment.  they worry that they will have to buy a new signal receivers for another channel.

Will football be for the rich only?

TVN